Chamaedorea rhizomatosa Hodel, Phytologia 68: 401 (1990)

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Distribution

Map uses TDWG level 3 distributions (https://github.com/tdwg/wgsrpd)
Mexico Southwest present (World Checklist of Arecaceae)B
MEXICO. Oaxaca. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Discussion

  • C. rhizomatosa is unusual in its cespitose habit and rhizomatous stems and pinnate leaves. Only C. brachypoda, C. stolonifera, and C. graminifolia resemble C. rhizomatosa in their stems spreading by rhizomes or stolons. However, C. brachypoda and C. stolonifera have bifid leaves and, while C. graminifolia has pinnate leaves, it is amply distinct in having 20-30 narrowly linear pinnae, much stouter stems, and larger habit. Good staminate flowers of C. rhizomatosa are not known so its placement in subgenus Chamaedoropsis is somewhat tentative. We have established a few plants of C. rhizomatosa in the research collection in Los Angeles and hope to obtain flowers to verify its correct placement. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Biology And Ecology

  • Moist pine-oak forest on a steep and rocky substrate on the Pacific slope; 1,400 m elevation. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Etymology

  • From the Latin rhizomatosus meaning provided with a well developed rhizome. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Description

  • Habit: cespitose by means oflong rhizomes, forming well separated loose clusters of 6-12 erect or decumbent stems in area of 4 square m, to 2.5 m tall. Stems: 7-9 mm diam., green, ringed, internodes 2-10 cm long. Leaves: 3-6, erect-spreading, pinnate; sheath to 16 cm long, tubular, green, obliquely open apically, longitudinally striate-nerved; petiole 10-20 cm long, flat and green above, rounded and light green below, longitudinally striate-nerved; rachis 25-35 em long, angled and green above, rounded below with light yellow band extending onto sheath; pinnae 6-8 on each side of rachis, middle ones longest, these to 25 x 5 cm, basal ones 14 x 2 cm, lanceolate, slightly sigmoid, acuminate, contracted basally, a prominently raised midrib and two slightly less prominent submarginal primary nerves above, these yellowish below, 3-5 secondaries between midrib and each primary, tertiaries numerous, faint, apical pair of pinnae 13-17 x 5 cm with 5-7 primary nerves, 2-3 secondaries between each pair of primaries. Inflorescences: Staminate straight, erect or spreading; peduncle to 15 cm long, 4 mm wide at base and there flattened, 2.5 mm diam. at apex; bracts 4, tubular, obliquely open apically, acuteacuminate, bifid, finely longitudinally striate-nerved, prophyll 2-3 cm long, 2nd bract 6 cm, 3rd 7 cm, 4th 5 cm and exceeding peduncle and extending onto rachis; rachis 5 cm long; rachillae 12, to 10 cm long, drooping. Pistillate not seen. Flowers: Staminate in moderately dense spirals, 2 mm apart, 2 x 2.5 mm in bud, globose, ± superficial but leaving elliptic scars 2.5 mm long; calyx 1-1.25 x 2 mm, lobed, sepals imbricate basally, rounded apically; petals 2 x 2.5 mm, broadly ovate, valvate, acute, apparently free apically; stamens 1.25-1.5 mm high, in a fairly tight ring around and shorter than pistillode, filaments 1 mm long, anthers 0.75-1 mm long; pistillode 1.75-2 mm high, ± equalling petals, columnar, flared apically. Pistillate not seen. Fruits: not seen. (Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.)A

Bibliography

    A. Hodel, D. 1992. Chamaedorea Palms, The Species and Their Cultivation. The International Palm Society.
    B. World Checklist of Arecaceae